Hinge cover



Jan. 5, 1960 E. B. ARNOLD, JR 2,919,460

` HINGECOVER Filed Nov. 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fr z m v Y I /t//Qj INVENTOR .A Trop/van Jan. 5, 1960l E. B. ARNOLD, JR

HINGE cox/ER 4 Sheets-sheL 2 Mw/N ma w M T m m E. B. ARNOLD, JR 2,919,460 l Jan. 5, 1960 HINGE COVER Filed Nov* 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR cfzvmmafdcfz Jan'. 5, 1960 E. B. ARNOLD, JR

HINGE CG-VER Filed Nov. 14, 195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HINGE COVER Everett B. Arnold, lr., Detroit,- Mich., assigner to General Motors Corporatian, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationfNovember 14, 1955, Serial No. 622,218

Claims. (Cl. iti-148) This; invention relatesl generally to hinge devices and particularly to hinge devices of the type used to swingingly hang automotive vehicle doors.

Because of the emphasis which is increasingly being placed on the appearance of automotive vehicles, more.

Which were hidden, i.e., not visible when the doors were;

in the closed position.` In` recent years, with the increases in the thicknesses ofthe door and body panels and.` the; complications, involved in swinging the doors relatively to. theirv supporting body sectionsV so that they are, freefof obstructions, it has been: necessary to utilize yn iovable centerY hinge assemblies whose hinge buttsA are relativ. elyk large and require large openings in the body sections in order. to have their required degrees` of movement. These hinge. assemblies have grown in complexity n and'V now contain a` multiplicity of links, springs, and' either'partsfgwhi'ch,l if viewable, are considered to present an'unpleasing appearance whether the door is inA the open o'rvv partially'opened" position. The complexity of such hinge assemblies and the room required for the various elements thereof add to the, diiculty of providing a suitablejl'iinge assembly covering which will not interfere wifthjthemovements of the hinge assembly and still pro- Vide'a v'cover' forsuch assembly when the assembly is in the* door open position.

vA'fccordingly, it is an object of this invention to provideforthi'nge opening covers which appear particularly adaptable forusel in conjunctionwith the hinges found invth'emodern automotive vehicle.l

1t: is aiI further object of this invention to make such covers-in-rnore than one. piecer so that they may more compactl'y-combine with such hinges and unfold or move asthedoor is opened to perform their covering function and, likewise, foldwhen the door is closed, so. that they do-'not interferewith the other working parts of the hinge assemblies.

For: theabove and other objects ofthis invention reference"ma'y be had. to" the accompanying detailed description' andd'rawings in which:

, 'Fig.' l' is a side elevation of anA automotive vehicle illustratin'g. an. application of the hinge assembly between a right rea'r' door and a. right rear quarter panel of a vehicle body in which such covers are advantageously utilized. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on the line12-2r of-Fig; 7kwit-hfparts shown-in sectionk and serves to.illustratei one of the links connecting one of the hinge butts to the hinge box and with the hinge butt in the door full open position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and is taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 9 but is of the lower hingey device with the hinge butt shown in the door full open position.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view taken on the line 44 of Fig.. l0 and illustrates the stabilizing link extending between lower and upper hinge devices and its connection to one of the links which pivotally connects the hinge butt to lthe hinge box.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view with parts broken away and in= section illustrating the adjustable means for limiting elo-- sure of the door.

Fig. 6 is a view greatly enlarged taken substantiallyl on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing a hinge assembly with the hinge parts in the door fully closed position and the novel hinge cover combined therewith folded back'out of the way so that it does not interfere with the rest of the hinge parts Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 except that the hinge parts including the novel hinge cover are'shown in the door full open position wherein the hinge cover closes the opening in the hinge cover plate so as to conceal the working parts of the assembly located in the hinge box.

Fig. 8 is a view taken substantially on the line 8--S of Fig. 1 but greatly enlarged illustrating a second hinge; assembly which utilizes a somewhat different type or form-oit'l hinge cover plate wherein the hinge parts and. the novelu hinge cover assembly are also shown in thel door full closed position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 except that the parts of the modified hinge assembly and novel articulatedy hinge cover are shown in the door full open position.

Fig'. l0 is a viewv in elevation with parts broken away and in sectionY taken substantially on the line itl-10 of Fig. 6. illustrating the details of the connections between.-

generally by a numeral 1l). The hinge assembly 10 in-y cludes an upper hinge device 12 and a lower hinge device 14.

The details of the lower hinge device 4 are best illustrated inv Figs. 3, 8, 9 and 10; Upon reference to those gures, it will be observed that hinge device i4` includes a gooseneck hinge butt 16 which is suitably rigidly fastened at one end thereof to the rear door 8 by the nut and bolt assemblies 18 so as toswing therewith. The opposite end 2) of hinge butt 16 is pivotally connected (as best seen in Fig. 3) by a pin 22 to one end 2d-k of a bifurcated link 2.6` which is pivotally connected to the usuali hinge box 27 by means of pivot pins 28. Also pivotally connected to the hinge box 2'7 at one end' byr means of a pin 3@ is one end 32 of a control hinge linkl 34. whose opposite end 36 is pivotally connected at the point 38 to the gooseneck hinge butt 16.

As` best seen in Figs. 8, 9, and 1G, a pair of pivoted hinge covers d@ and 42, U-shaped or channel-like in cross section, are pivotally connected together and between. the hinge 190x127 and the gooseneck hinge butt 16 at the points 44: and-46, respectively. The entire lower hinge deviceA so` far described is mountedV in the recess normally pro'- videdV in therear quarterpanel d and/fixed rigidly in place byy means of the threaded bolt and/I Y l nut assemblies 481 Whenfthehinge assembly 14 is properly xed'in place in;

rear quarter panel 4, a hinge cover plate 43 is fixed to the transversely extending vertical panel or bulkhead 45, plate 43 being provided with an aperture 47 through which the hinge butt 16 extends. As previously mentioned, the covers 40 and 42 are U-shaped or channellike in section so that they can pivotally fold or nest together without interfering with the pivot movement thereof. As indicated in Fig. 8, when the hinge assembly is in the door closed position, the covers 40 and 42 take a substantially right angle position relative to each other in a location which keeps them from interfering with the other elements of the hinge assembly 14.

Observing now Fig. 9, it will be seen that when the hinge butt 16 is moved to the full door open position, the covers 40 and 42 straighten out into substantial alignment with each other to take the position shown, thereby covering the opening in the cover plate 43 so that observers cannot see or peer in and view the unsightly elements and other mechanical portions of the hinge assembly 14 located in hinge box 27. Although not so utilized in the present instance, the cover plates 40 and 42 could be made to limit the opening movement of the hinge butt 16, thus acting as a limiting device for hinge butt 16 as well as improving the appearance of the panel 45 in the proximity of the hinge assembly 14.

Referring to Figs. 2, 6, and 7, the upper hinge device 12 includes a hinge box S0 having pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 52 a bifurcated link 54. The bifurcated end of link 54 has pivotally connected between the bifurcations 56 and 5S thereof one end 60 of a gooseneck hinge butt 62. The opposite end of link 54 is pivotally connected to hinge box 50 by pins 55. The opposite end of hinge butt 62 is connected to the upper portion of the rear door 8 by bolt and nut assemblies 64. The upper hinge assembly 12 is mounted in the recess provided in the rear quarter panel 4 and is rigidly held in place by the bolt assemblies 66 and 68 which fasten the hinge box to a bulkhead 70. It will be observed that the structure so far described for the upper hinge device will not in and of itself serve to stabilize the movement of the hinge butt 62 either about a fixed center or a movable center moving along a predetermined path. However, as best noted in Figs. l, 4, and l0, the upper and lower hinge devices 12 and 14 are connected together in a manner hereinafter set forth. Upon reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the link 54 of the upper hinge device 12 is provided with an arm 72 and that the link 26 of the lower hinge device 14 is provided with a similar arrn 74. The arms 72 and 74 have extending substantially vertically therebetween and rigidly fixed thereto by means of studs 476 and 78 a stabilizing member or bar 80. The bar 80 serves as a link between the upper link 54 of the upper hinge device 12 and the lower link 26 of the lower hinge device 14 so as to impart in conjunction with the door 8 the same swinging movement of the hinge butt 16 to the hinge butt 62.

It will be appreciated that the movements of the upper and lower hinge devices 12 and 14 are interrelated and that the upper hinge device is not provided with a control link similar to the control link 34 of the lower hinge device. The binding, which might be present if both door hinge assemblies were to include control links such as is shown in the lower hinge device of the present application, is thus effectively prevented. Furthermore, more room is made available in the upper hinge assembly for the presence of the door hold open and the spring door assist.

Turning again for a moment to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the upper hinge device 12 has pivotally connected to the hinge box 50 at the point 82 an arm or lever 84 which serves as a door hold open. The arm 84 as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7 is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction by means of a helical coil spring secured at one end thereof and to the hinge box 50 at the point 86. Movement of the hold open 84 is hmited by a hold open stop comprising a pin 88 fixed to the hinge box 50. It will be noted that the hinge butt 62 is provided with a pin or follower 90 which, as the butt 62 swings from the closed position shown in Fig. 6 to the open position in Fig. 7, moves through an intermediate hold open position defined by a recess 92 or shoulder to a full hold open recess 94 where the pin 90 abuts a shoulder 96.

To regulate proper closure of the door 8 an adjustable door closing limit stop has been provided. This is best seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 and comprises an adjustable screw 98 supported by a bracket 100 xed to the hinge box 50. The gooseneck 62 is provided with a shoulder 102 which engages the end of screw 98 upon predetermined closing of door 8 and gooseneck 62. If the door 8 tends to swing too far closed a simple adjustment of Y screw 98 will correct such overclosure.

y butt 62 extends.

To assist in the opening of the door a torque link 104 is provided which has one end fixed to the hinge box 50 by a bracket and studs 106. (See Figs. 6, 7, and l0.) The torque rod is bent in the form of a crank and has the opposite end fixed by a bracket and studs 108 to the gooseneck 62. The rod 104 is formed so that it is relatively unstressed when the door is in the full open position and is increasingly stressed as the door closes.

After the upper hinge assembly 12 has been mounted in place in the rear quarter panel 4, an upper hinge cover plate 110 is fixed to the transverse forward face of the quarter panel 4 in much the same manner of the cover plate 43. The cover plate 110 is also provided with an opening 111 through which the gooseneck hinge To cover the opening 111 in the cover plate 110 a slightly different split hinge cover assembly is provided which comprises a irst cover piece 112 which appears shoe-like in shape and is rigidly fixed to the gooseneck hinge butt 62 at the primary bend 120 of the gooseneck so that a sliding surface 122 of the piece 112 is substantially faired into the surface 124 of the gooseneck facing outwardly when the gooseneck is in the full door open position. A second cover piece 114 is pivotally mounted in the hinge box at the point 116. Piece 114 v is U-shaped or channel-like in character so that the sides thereof tend to embrace the piece 112. Piece 114 is made of some suitable sheet metal material. Formed on the free end 126 of the piece 114 is a smoothly faired tab 128 which is adapted to ride on the smoothly faired surfaces 130, 132, and 122 of the piece 112. To maintain piece 114 in constant frictional engagement with piece 112, a torsion spring 118 has been provided which has an end anchored to the hinge box 50 and the opposite end abutting piece 114 tending to constantly bias it in a counterclockwise direction against piece 112. It will thus be seen that the piece 112 moves with the hinge butt 62 so that when the hinge butt moves to the door full open position as shown in Fig. 7, the piece 112 serves to cover a part of the opening 111. The remaining portion of the opening is then covered by the hinge cover piece 114 which takes the position shown by the tab 128 riding on the surfaces 122, 132, and 130, respectively, and 1n that order. Again, as seen in Fig. 6, the hinge covers fold into a very compact assembly located so that they do not interfere with the operation of the other elements of the hinge assembly.

From the foregoing description it may now be appreciated that two types of hinge cover plates or articulated type have been shown and described which may be combined with hinge assemblies so as to cover the openings through which the hinge butts normally extend to render more pleasing the appearance of the body iny addition to preventing foreign pieces and other matter from finding their way into such openings.

I claim:

l: In an enclosure including a door and a wall having a `hinge assembly recess therein, a cover member over said recess and having a rectangular opening therein,

y and means to cover said opening when said hinge butt is in the door full open position comprising a foldable cover, one of its ends being pivotally mounted on said hinge butt within said recess adjacent the aforementioned opposite edge of said opening when said hinge butt is in its door full open position and its opposite end being pivotally connected to said wall within said recess adjacent the one edge of said opening, the attachment of said ends to said hinge butt and wall locating said cover in a folded condition in said recess when said butt is in the door closed position and in an unfolded condition across said opening when said butt is in the door full open position, said cover being of suicient area in its unfolded condition to substantially cover the area of said opening.

2. In an automobile body including a door and a body panel having a hinge assembly recess, a cover member over said recess and having an elongated opening therein, a hinge assembly mounted in said recess and including a hinge butt pivoted to said body in said recess and extending through said opening to said door and rigidly fastened thereto, said hinge butt being mounted in said opening to move through the space of said opening from one edge to an opposite edge thereof when said door is moved from its full closed position to its full open position and yan elongated multiple piece cover to cover said opening when said hinge butt is in the door full open position comprising a irst cover piece mounted on said hinge butt within said recess, having an end adjacent the aforementioned opposite edge of said opening when said hinge butt is in its door full open position, a second cover piece having an end pivotally connected to said panel adjacent the one edge of said opening within said recess, and means maintaining said pieces in engagement with leach other for relative movement with respect to each other, said points of attachment of said cover pieces yto said panel and said hinge butt and said means thereby locating rsaid pieces in a folded condition in said recess, when said butt is in the door closed position and in an extended condition across said opening when said butt is in the door full open position, said cover being of sufcient area in its unfolded condition to substantially cover the area of said opening.

3. In an automobile body including a door and a body panel having a hinge assembly recess, a cover member over said recess and having an elongated opening therein, a hinge assembly mounted in said recess and including a hinge buttV pivoted to said body in said recess and extending through said opening to said door and rigidly fastened thereto, an elongated multiple piece cover to cover said opening when said hinge butt is in the door full open position comprising a first cover piece rigidly mounted on said hinge butt within said recess to swing therewith, a second cover piece pivotally connected to said panel within said recess, biasing means associated with said second cover piece and said panel biasing said second cover piece into constant engagement with said first cover piece, said points of attachment of said cover pieces to said panel and said hinge butt and said biasing means locating said pieces in a folded condition when said butt is in the door closed position and in an extended condition Iacross said opening when said butt is in the door full open position.

4. In an automobile body including a door and a body panel having a hinge assembly recess, a cover member over said recess and having an elongated opening therein, a hinge assembly mounted in said recess and including a hinge butt pivoted to said body in said recess and extending through said opening to said door and rigidly fastened thereto, said hinge butt being mounted in said opening to move through the space of said opening from one edge to an opposite edge thereof when said door is moved from its full closed position to its full open position and means to cover said opening when said hinge butt is in the door full open position comprising a pair of pivotally attached foldable cover pieces one of which has an end pivotally fastened to said hinge butt within said recess adjacent the aforementioned opposite edge of said opening when said hinge butt is in its door full open position and the other of which has an end pivotally attached to said panel within said recess adjacent the one edge of said opening so that said pieces are folded in said recess when said butt is in the door closed position and unfolded across said opening when said butt is in the door' open position, said cover being of sufficient area in its unfolded condition to substantially cover the area of said opening.

5. In an enclosure including a door and a wall having a hinge assembly recessed therein, a hinge assembly mounted in said recess and including a hinge butt pivoted to said wall in said recess and extending out of said recess to said door and rigidly fastened thereto, said hinge butt being mounted in said opening to move through the space of said opening from one edge to an opposite edge thereof when said door is moved from its full closed position to its full open position and means to cover said recess when said hinge butt is in the door full open position comprising a foldable cover, said cover having a first end portion pivotally mounted on said hinge butt within said recess adjacent the aforementioned opposite edge of said opening when said hinge butt is in its door full open position and having an opposite end portion pivotally connected to said wall within said recess adjacent the one edge of said opening, the attachment of said ends to said door and wall being located with respect to remaining portions of said cover to retain said cover in a folded condition in said recess when said butt is in the door closed position and in an unfolded condition over said recess when said butt is in the door full open position, said cover being of sufcient area in its unfolded condition to substantially cover the area of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,810 Galla July 21, 1953 2,775,783 Kapanka et al. Jan. 1, 1957 

